Working on Updates 0%. Don’t turn off your PC. This will take a while.
I knew right then and there I was doomed. Not a thing I could do about it – for two hours! Now, I know the importance of keeping my computer updated. It is necessary for all of us to update our computers in order to keep them running smoothly, to patch up anything that’s not working as it should, and to enhance and improve and simply make things work better. As I’m sitting looking at the screen watching the number tick up to 100 and then start again for the next update, I’m kicking myself because I know the importance of keeping current, of updating, of the support needed to keep things running as they should. I’m feeling slightly impatient – slightly! Ugh!
As I’m waiting, I start putzing around impatiently and flipping pages in several books I have sitting on my desk, including my Bible, and I’m increasingly frustrated as each time I glance up at the screen it has the same message. I continue to putz and flip through some other things at my desk and still the same message. So, in my most humble – not – voice I say: “Lord, what’s going on here? You know my day. I’ve got work to do. I need to finish this up so I can get on to the next thing.” And he says: “Really, Beth?” God really does have a sense of humor. So, I step out of the frustration frenzy and seek to learn from this experience. What’s the lesson here? And it settles on me heavily. The words of our Savior. Be holy because I am holy. I know, odd thought at that time but that’s what came into my mind.
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
You see, in order to function in the way we’re meant to function as holy beings, we must be current. We must have a current, up-to-date relationship with Jesus. We must be fully connected to Him and His Word. We must take in information, let it speak to our hearts and minds and then generate Godly holy living. God says I’m working on your life. Don’t turn Me off. Don’t be impatient, this will take a while.
Holiness is not just being a good person, it is being a God person, and that takes constant updating, constant rebooting, constantly checking of the connection and making sure we’re plugged in. The holiness of the Spirit requires pursuit. How do we pursue holiness? How do we pursue the holiness God intended for our lives? By constant rebooting and updating. By consistently applying patches and rewiring our minds and our hearts to work as the Lord intended so that transformation (changed, a new version) and sanctification (proper functioning) take place. How is that done?
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
First, we must spend time communicating with our God. Time spent in prayer joining ourselves to Him is vital. He’s our motherboard (Fatherboard) – His strength, power, wisdom, guidance, love, mercy and grace must be plugged into and connected to all circuits of our life. Not just our Sunday circuit.
Second, keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter – and by letter – the Word of the Lord. It’s very clear. Be in the Word of the Lord. You can’t follow God if you don’t know who Jesus is. We only find out who Jesus is through the Word of the Lord, then through relationship with Him. We are then sanctified (living according to God’s design and purpose) when we live who He is. When we are in right relationship with Him and fully connected to Him, then we are made Holy.
Working on Updates 0% Don’t turn off your PC. This will take a while.